Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-31
TO THE EDITOR.
LETTERS REGARDING TWO NOTED
vIRGINIANs LATELY DECEASED.
The Career OF Lewis E. Harvie-Hon' D.
n. T. Hunter and His Re-
ligiOus Views.
To The Editor of the Dispatch:

In the death of Lewis II. HarVie,
which took place at Dykeland, his late
residence, in Amelia county, on inc
18th day of this month, must be noted
the departure of man who in his day
occupied a large space IN the pupnc
eye, and who, in conjunction win o'ner
men Of congenial character and aspira-
tons and similar political opinions, eX-
ercised n wide and varied influence
upon public affairs. This was due not
only to perseverance and earnest,
ness, which are necessary conditions OF
continued favor in a government IKE
ours. but TO the active advocacy OF
principles which were dear to the peo--
PIE. and to the possession OF personal
qualities that commanded the respect
Of all men without distinction OF creed
or party.
The times in which he lived were
propitious for the production OF such
cbaiacters. From the Inauguration OF
Washington in 1889, the country had
gradually ranged itself in two divisions
under the opposite ideas that had been
developed III the debates of the conven-
ton of 17S7-ideas which had matured,
and become engaged In full conflict
when Mr.. Harvic grew up to manhood.
The suit of Chisholm against the
State of Georgia i'll 1893 had caused
the prompt adoption OF the eleventh
amendment, as it is called, forbidding
the suing of State in Federal court !;
the evasion Of that amendment, and
the claim Of jurisdiction over State in
the matter OF her contracts in the case
of Fletcher rs. Peck in 1910, the Dart
mouth College case, and others of SINH
lar character that soon followed the
development of strong and growing
sectional feeling in New England du-
ring the war of 1Sl2-l5; the Mis-
souii trouble that in 1919 reused
Mr.. Jefferson, ike ga firebell i'll the
night" the protective tariff OF 1879 that
provoked notification in 1882, the
abolition petitions of 1881, and the in
surrection of Nat Turner the next Au-
gust-these, and other allied questions,
familiar to the student of that period,
were the daily topics Of animated news
paper and social discussion everywhere,
and especially in that polished and
cultivated society, trained in dialectics,
in which Mr.. Harvie habitually moved.
He lad inherited from his family, or
inhibited 10y association with them,
their iondness for politics and their
zeal for States rights = and entering
the University of Virginia at the age Of
sixteen, one OF the first Of its alumni.
bis caIlyprcdilcctionswe were confirmed in
that propaganda of States Rights De
mocracy into convictions which never
left him. 1t the same school he formed
with certain gentlemen, who subse-
queDtly became eminent in the State,
friendships which never cooled, but re-
tanned their warmth and freshness to the
last.
Thus prcdisposed to his doctrines By
inclination. by education, AMI by a,,o-
citation, Mr.. Harvic became, at his Ell
trance into life, an ardent pupil and
devoted personal friend Of Mr.. Cal
loun and embarked on an active po-
litical career, which lasted without in
termission from 1880 to the catastrophe
at Appomattox. 70 follow him through
that would be to give the political his
tory Of Virginia during those eventful
wears; for he Was a part of it all.
But though thus engaged and pos
scssod of talents which fitted him
Tor high political station, his
name does not often appear in
the legislative records OF the State, and
he was never eyenacandilate for Fede-
raj honors. But he was nevertheless,
first, in the party Of the nulliicrs, and
Afterwards in that Of the States rights
mon--a power in the land, a Warwick
among the politicians, utalways guided
Gy IN honor, loyalty, goodfaith, and
a disinterestednCs to which the kiag-
mQk1r was stranger 1t suited the
generosity Of his nature t. work for
Others rather than for himself
TO lostow benefits upon his friends
rat Ct than 10 receive them.
Prompted by this trait he devoted him
SELF particularly to the advancement Of
the fortunes of the late Il. VI. L.
Hunter, who, by a touching comet
donce, Las just died on the same day
with himself. is not too much to say
for this gentleman, the Gblest lieutenant
Of Mr.. Calhoun, and understanding his
great chieftain in the unbIemished purity
o: his private and public life, rs in his fine
endOwments and his clear comprchen-
sion Of the true principles upon which
or political system should rest, that it
was 70 the loyal attachment OF ilr. Har-
vie that he owed that seat in the Fede-
raj Senate, which he illustrated for tif-
teen years by his virtue, his wisdom,
and lis genius. For though Mr..
Hunters intellect was indeed senate
nal, yet his moJesty vas a bar to his
Advancement by pushing. rs some of
his rivals did, what they called their
political claims
But notwithstanding the warmth
with which Mr.. Haryie urged the mea-
sures lie favored and the men he sOugh.
to forward, he was vet on terms of
comfy with all his opponents, and Of
close intimacy with some OF those
whose adverse opinions We're Is positive
as lis ovn, end expressed with as much
sincerity, fervor, and constancy. The
late james French Strother, of Rap.
pahannock; Robert T.. Scott, of Fau-
quier; Thomas S. Flournoy. and James
G. Bruce, of Halifax, and his lifelong
and still surviving friend. Egbert G.
Leigh, OF Amelia, these honored names
are but samples Of "the old Wings"
who were not repealed from him by any
political differences, but were among
bis trusted friends. And when, Mt last,
the North forced the conflict on the
South, and that secession came which
he had labored to induce and they to
prevent, it made no change in their
relations. "Why Harvie," once
heard General Jubal Early say, Il
could not have said you ought to be
hung. Why l fought to keep them
from hanging you" Each party knew
and respected the sincerity OF the
other and both forget their differences
in the one unanimous purpose to save
the State from degradation and ruin.
But there were other matters of pub
lie concern that claimed and received
his attention. Among these was
agriculture. His tastes were rural.
and WHEN he grew up he became a
planter on a large estate. Thus real
izing the ideal of nearly every Virginia
gentleman Of his day, he gave his time